Device for drawing heat from the surface of skin

Abstract

A handheld appliance suitable for skin treatment and/or personal care operations comprises an applicator structure having a thermally conductive element supported so as to be exposable to controlled release of pressurized fluid within a gas-expansion chamber. The just-expanded gas causes an endothermic reaction in which heat is removed from the applicator. The applicator is usable to then draw heat energy from skin, etc. When applied to skin, a numbing effect is experienced which can ease pain associated with depilation, discomfort associated with exfoliation, be useful in treating wounds, etc.

1. A skin treatment system, comprising:
 (a) a handle; 
 (b) an applicator supported by the handle, the applicator including a thermally conductive element; 
 (c) a base unit comprising at least a housing; 
 (d) a gas expansion chamber supported by the base unit and having an insertion opening sized to receive at least the thermally conductive element of the applicator; 
 (e) a coupling supported by the base unit and connectable to a supply of pressurized fluid for providing the pressurized fluid into the expansion chamber; and 
 (f) a valve, disposed in the fluid path between the supply and the expansion chamber so as to control release of any pressurized fluid into the expansion chamber, 
 so that the thermally conductive element of the applicator is cooled by the release of pressurized fluid into the expansion chamber. 
 
     
     
       2. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive element of the applicator is both separable from the base unit and insertable into the opening of the gas expansion chamber that is supported by the base unit. 
     
     
       3. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion opening is keyed to the shape of at least a portion of the applicator. 
     
     
       4. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermally conductive element of the applicator has an outer layer made of a material different than the thermally conductive element. 
     
     
       5. The skin treatment system of  claim 4 , wherein the outer layer comprises a smooth surface made of one of nylon, polyvinyl, Teflon, or other plastic. 
     
     
       6. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator is movably supported on the handle. 
     
     
       7. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the thermally conductive element of the applicator comprises a flexible skin-contacting surface suitable for tracking skin contours as the appliance is moved across a skin surface. 
     
     
       8. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator further comprises a sealed chamber containing a fluid in conductive communication with the expansion chamber so as to store a heat-absorbing potential. 
     
     
       9. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle supports a housing that comprises a means for performing a personal care operation. 
     
     
       10. The skin treatment system of  claim 9 , wherein the performing means is disposed proximate to the applicator. 
     
     
       11. The skin treatment system of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is detachably supported on the handle. 
     
     
       12. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the expansion chamber further comprises at least one fluid discharge port. 
     
     
       13. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is made of a thermally insulative material. 
     
     
       14. The skin treatment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a trigger operative to open the valve. 
     
     
       15. The skin treatment system of  claim 14 , wherein the valve opens under circuitry control in response to operation of the trigger. 
     
     
       16. The skin treatment system of  claim 14 , wherein the valve opens automatically in response to a user fully inserting the thermally conductive element into the expansion chamber into contact with the trigger.